An outbreak of severe thunderstorms occurred across portions of the Texas panhandle and the South Plains of West Texas on Thursday May 12, 2005.The weather pattern on this day was highly conducive for severe thunderstorm and tornado development.  A southward moving cold front early in the day became nearly stationary by afternoon as a strong flow of moisture overspread the area from the southeast.Numerous waves of severe thunderstorms developed throughout the afternoon on Thursday and continued well into the after midnight hours on Friday.  During this long duration event, between the hours of 4:30 PM and 10:00 PM, several tornadoes occurred across the area.The National Weather Service in Lubbock, TX, dispatched a damage survey team to assess reports of tornadoes and associated damage.

Tornado in CROSBY, TEXAS
From 12-MAY-05 19:55:00 to 12-MAY-05 20:10:00 (CST)
Location: RALLS
Tornado F-scale: F2
Property damage: 100K
Crop damage: 75K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

F2 tornado in Ralls.In assessing the damage from the F3 tornado, the debris field diminished in areal coverage as the tornado tracked farther to the northeast along the end of its path.  Damage assessment and public accounts of the storm suggested the tornado weakened and lifted.  Meanwhile, a second tornado developed. This occurrence coincided with a break in the debris field observed during the Survey.  This cycle of one tornado weakening and lifting while another tornado forms to the right of the former path is typical in well-organized tornadic thunderstorms. This second tornado developed approximately 1.5 miles west of Ralls and tracked to the north and northwest before dissipating three miles north of Ralls. The tornado damaged a residence and a nearby barn. Two thousand pound bales of hay were tossed from one side of US Highway 62/82 to the other as the tornado scattered debris to the south and southwest across an adjacent field.  In addition, a vehicle was overturned on the property within debris from the residence and power poles were either blown down or snapped and center pivots overturned.

Tornado in FLOYD, TEXAS
From 12-MAY-05 17:24:00 to 12-MAY-05 17:40:00 (CST)
Location: SOUTH PLAINS
Tornado F-scale: F0
Reported by: STORM CHASER

F0 tornado in South Plains.A multi-vortex tornado associated with the previous circulation.  This tornado was much weaker in comparison to the primary and stronger tornadic circulation mentioned earlier. This tornado was reported approximately one-half mile south of FM 689 and 7 miles east of State Highway 207.

Tornado in FLOYD, TEXAS
From 12-MAY-05 17:13:00 to 12-MAY-05 17:25:00 (CST)
Location: SOUTH PLAINS
Tornado F-scale: F2
Reported by: STORM CHASER

F2 Tornado South Plains.Several power poles were snapped in half or blown over.  The telephone poles surveyed were blown over in a variety of patterns, south to north direction, southwest to northeast direction, and a west to east direction.  In addition, several center pivots were either blown over or twisted and two vehicles were flipped over in a field from a south to north direction. The Tornado produced the most damage shortly before and after crossing State Highway 207.This tornado was the parent or main tornado involved in what is known as a multi-vortex tornado.  At times, this tornado was greater than one-half mile in width.  Large tornadoes sometimes undergo a process where the flow inside the tornado becomes disrupted, but does not dissipate.  The result is a turbulent circulation, or vortex, where smaller and typically weaker tornadoes develop and rotate around the parent or much broader circulation.  The following South Plains tornado was one of these smaller and weaker tornadoes associated with this multi-vortex tornado.

Tornado in LAMB, TEXAS
From 12-MAY-05 15:30:00 to 12-MAY-05 15:30:00 (CST)
Location: OLTON
Tornado F-scale: F0
Reported by: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD

F0 tornado 1 mile west of Olton.

Tornado in HALE, TEXAS
From 12-MAY-05 16:04:00 to 12-MAY-05 16:04:00 (CST)
Location: PLAINVIEW
Tornado F-scale: F0
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

F0 tornado 1 mile north of Plainview.

Tornado in CROSBY, TEXAS
From 12-MAY-05 19:40:00 to 12-MAY-05 19:55:00 (CST)
Location: RALLS
Tornado F-scale: F3
Property damage: 300K
Crop damage: 200K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

F3 tornado in Ralls.A strong tornado developed approximately 9 miles to the southwest of Ralls around 8:40 PM and tracked to the northeast for six miles.  Along the path of this tornado, several power poles were blown over or snapped and a few center pivots were overturned or twisted.  A residence was completely destroyed with debris entirely removed from the foundation.  The majority of the debris from this structure was blown to the northeast approximately 10 to 30 feet from the foundation...with other related debris dispersed over a mile away.  Two pickup trucks were lifted and deposited upside down 5 to 30 feet from former locations.  Trees were mud-splattered and stripped of bark with large branches completely torn off trunks.  Center pivot irrigation systems were either blown over or twisted in surrounding fields...however some were left unscathed to the northeast of this tornado.  Additional debris associated with this tornado was also deposited in a field across from US Highway 62/82 before dissipating.

Tornado in LUBBOCK, TEXAS
From 12-MAY-05 20:20:00 to 12-MAY-05 20:40:00 (CST)
Location: IDALOU
Tornado F-scale: F0
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

F0 tornado 7 miles northeast of Idalou.

Tornado in HALE, TEXAS
From 12-MAY-05 16:41:00 to 12-MAY-05 16:41:00 (CST)
Location: PLAINVIEW
Tornado F-scale: F0
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

F0 tornado 10 miles northeast of Plainview.